The Ministry of Science and Technology’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) has developed three domestically manufactured small gas turbine engines for use in unmanned defence systems. The announcement was made on 25 August 2026 at CSIR Headquarters in New Delhi. These engines are intended to power tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, drone interceptors and compact missile systems being developed within India.
The engines and their specifications
CSIR-NAL has created three models under the NJ series:
- NJ-05: delivers 5 kilogrammes of thrust
- NJ-50: delivers 50 kilogrammes of thrust
- NJ-100: delivers 100 kilogrammes of thrust
The development involved advances in high-speed turbomachinery and high-temperature combustion technology. Dr Abhay A. Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-NAL, stated that Indian aerospace companies and the growing start-up sector possess the manufacturing capability to produce these engines at scale for defence use.
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, attended the unveiling as chief guest. He highlighted the strategic value of developing such technologies domestically to strengthen national security and reduce dependence on imported defence systems.
What this means for you
These engines represent progress toward India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in advanced defence technology. The development reduces India’s need to purchase expensive propulsion systems from other countries for its growing unmanned aircraft and missile programmes. If Indian manufacturers can produce these engines at competitive costs, defence projects may become less expensive and timelines may improve. The availability of indigenous engines also means India can customise these systems to match specific military requirements without sharing technology details with foreign suppliers.